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Company moving HQ to Bay [The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.](News Herald (Panama City, FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 13--PANAMA CITY -- A new business venture to Bay County has the commitment of creating a minimum of 100 new jobs in the first year. Redpine Healthcare Technologies officials announced Tuesday morning that Bay County -- more specifically the fourth floor of the Hancock Bank Center on 23rd Street -- has been chosen for the company's new corporate headquarters. The medical software development company received $750,000 in incentives from Bay County and Florida. The money will go toward the company 's relocation costs, hiring and training of new employees, and will provide a financial cushion for transferring operations, which are projected to be up and running in Panama City in September. In return, the business owner and president, Shad Wheeler, has committed to creating 410 jobs by the end of 2015, with an annual wage of $49,155 -- or 150 percent of the county's average annual salary. The employment applications for Redpine are being processed through the Gulf Coast Workforce Center at 625 U.S. 231 in Panama City. The company plans to hire individuals to work in marketing, sales, medical billing, customer support and training. "We are very excited about moving to Panama City and the positive impact it will have on both our company and our customers," Wheeler said in a news release. "Bay County offers a tremendous work force that we believe will play a key role in supporting our continued growth and our mission to allow doctors to do what they do best -- take care of their patients." The company Redpine has been around since 2006 and is based in Spokane, Wash. The software company, which Wheeler said has been been heavily involved in research and development for the past several years, serves 200 clients nationwide by providing medical billing services and practice management systems. One such system offered to chiropractor practices is a cloud-based (Internet-based) chiropractic practice management and electronic medical record system called ChiroCollector. The company's competitive advantage is that the company sells services to support practices, not just the software, Wheeler said. Bay recruitment One reason the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the County Commission and the state heavily recruited the businesses is because of the new jobs and the multiplier effect of the new jobs. For each 100 jobs created by Redpine, 59 additional new jobs will be created in other areas of the community, Janet Watermeier, executive director of the EDA, said in a news release. The Bay County Commissioners unanimously authorized a $350,000 economic incentive package, a first for the county, at the end of June to help entice the company to Bay County. "This is great for our area," Bay County Commission Chairman Bill Dozier said in a news release. "This commission has taken a proactive stance in this dismal economy by working to bring industry and jobs to Bay County." Gov. Rick Scott and Gray Swoope, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, also were involved in recruiting Redpine to Bay County. "I am pleased to welcome Redpine's headquarter and high-tech business to Florida," Scott said in a news release. "We're focused on nurturing a business climate that encourages business expansion and job creation in our state." Congressman Steve Southerland also offered his praise Tuesday. "I applaud Gov. Scott, the Bay County Commission, the Bay County Economic Development Alliance and Enterprise Florida for their hard work in making this job-creating economic boost a reality," Southerland, R-Panama City, said in a news release. "Redpine's relocation to Panama City is proof positive that North and Northwest Florida provides a location that's second-to-none for companies looking to expand their operations and hire a dedicated workforce." ___ To see more of The News Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsherald.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The News Herald, Panama City, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) |